KATHMANDU: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Krishna Bahadur Mahara lauded the role of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) in laying out fundamentals to preserve peace and promoting positive democratic changes through political dialogue.

Issuing a statement today to the 140th IPU Assembly held in Doha, Qatar, Speaker Mahara termed the theme of deliberation of today’s session ‘Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law,’ as timely and relevant. “The theme recognizes that citizens’ trust is the key in all aspects of government,” he said

Maintaining that Nepal’s parliament continues to protect and promote democratic values, human rights, equality, and the rule of law, Mahara said ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting life-long learning opportunities for all is the central thrust of the goal.

He added that sustainable global peace and security can be achieved only when education is accorded priority by states and its institutions.

ARGHAKHANCHI: Three people died while 12 others sustained injuries  in a jeep accident that occurred at Lattebaj of Bhumikasthan Municipality-8 on Monday afternoon.

The deceased has been identified as 14-year-old Manika Acharya of Airawati Rural Municipality while the identities of others are yet to be established, said Police Inspector Gambhir Jung Thapa.

The jeep was heading to Baraula of Pyuthan from district headquarters Sandhikharka of Arghakhanchi.

According to police, the condition of four among those injured is critical. They have been sent to Butwal for treatment.

A total of 15 passengers were traveling in the jeep.  Break failure is the cause behind the accident, said police.

KATHMANDU: A socket bomb has been found in an office based in Basundhara in the capital on Monday.

The socket bomb was found under a sofa set in the office of Cultural Center run in the house joined to Oasis Cafe in Basundhara, confirmed DSP Hobindra Bogati, spokesperson of Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu.

“A bomb disposal team is heading towards the incident site following the information about the bomb, said Bogati.

Police said they are investing the case after taking the incident site under control.

KATHMANDU: Two people have died when a passenger bus en-route to Dharan from Hile of Dhankuta turned turtle at zero point of Dharan.

The cause behind the accident is yet to be ascertained. However, police said over-speed is likely to be the cause behind it.

Details to follow…

GORKHA: Farmers at Dharche Rural Municipality in the northern belt of Gorkha has started commercial apple farming.

According to Santosh Gurung, chairman of Dharche Rural Municipality said that the rural municipality has distributed 1,400 saplings of improved species of apple in its all seven wards to promote collective apple farming in the first phase.

He said the rural municipality has come up with the concept to support the livelihoods of earthquake survivors with the assistance of Gandaki Ministry of State for Physical Infrastructures and Development.

“Now we have distributed 200 apple saplings in each ward”, Gurung said, adding, the saplings are being planted to promote the plan of commercial apple farming.

NAWALPARASI: Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has seized  two files related to bidding of Sunawal Municipality in West Nawalparasi. The anti-graft body took control the files in course of the investigation following a complaint that bidding was not done in line with the stated criteria.

Earlier, the Sunawal Municipality had contracted out the bidders to extract river materials from Panbharkhola Jargaha bridge to the north and Panbharkhola Jargaha bridge to the south.

A complaint was lodged at the CIAA office arguing that the bidding process did not comply with the stipulated criteria.

Responding to the complaint, the constitutional watchdog body took the move, the CIAA source said.

SAPTARI: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) arrested an official of Rajbiraj-based District Land Revenue Office in the district on the charge of receiving bribe money.

The arrested is Nayab Subba (non-gazetted 1st class officer)  Basudev Mandal of the land revenue office, He was caught red-handed while receiving the bribe on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the anti-graft body caught him with Rs 40,000 in bribe. Mandal received the bribe from a service seeker promising him to settle a land-related issue.

BHARATPUR:  A motorcyclist has died while the pillion rider sustained injuries in a road accident in Chitwan district on Sunday night.

The deceased is identified as 16-year-old pilling rider Saroj Bhujel of Pokhara Metropolitan City-31.  Similarly, the motorcyclist 41-year-old Maheshwar Kandel of Debghat Rural Municipality-5, who sustained critical injuries in the accident, is undergoing treatment at Old Medical College.

The accident occurred when a motorcycle, Na 20 Pa 7518, the victims were riding, rammed the parked truck, Na 6 Kha 5729, at Ramnagar along the Narayangadh-Mungling road section in Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

The motorcycle was heading to Mungling from Narayangadh, according to police.

KATHMANDU: Layer chickens have also been found infected with bird flu in the first time in Nepal, a report in Annapurna daily said.

“Egg laying poultry has also been found infected with bird flu,” said Dr Bimal Nirmal, Director General of Department Livestock Services.

Earlier, bird flu was found only in broiler chicken. Dr Nirmal said that the government has been investing the case.

Bid flu has been confirmed in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kaski, Morang and Sunsari. However, it is yet to be investigated how the influenza virus spread to the layer poultry.

Around 350 crows found dead in Lainchaur and Durbar Marg areas had tested positive for H5H1 strain of the disease.

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has made it mandatory to operate public vehicles until 10 pm in the capital.

The metropolis has made such arrangement in view of the commuters’ service under the Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2019. According to the new transport rules, the public vehicles have to operate from 5 am until 10 pm.

The new transport rule will come into operation after 15 days once the act is authenticated by the president.